Automatic start and stop mechanism



June 3, 1952 c. N. BERGMANN AUTOMATIC START AND STOP MECHANISM 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed May 18, 1946 INVENTOR N M MY GE R ,N ER B m NM N: mm 8 I M C June 3, 1952 c. N. BERGMANN 2,599,220

AUTOMATIC START AND STOP MECHANISM Filed May 18, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 c J J; J\ g 6 INVENTOR I 59- 4 CHRIS rm/v IV. BERGMANN.

ATTORNEY Patented June 3, 1952 'FElCiEi Q UNITED STATES of one-third to Charles M.-*Clarke; Sewickley,-

Application May- 18, 1946, SerialyNot 670,820 v 8 Claims (Cl. 198-232)- This. invention is an improvement in. means for controlling the motor or prime mover of a. machine dependent upon normal feed thereto of acontinuous. succession of units to be acted upon, and forpromptly discontinuing the operation of breakage of bottles, causing. loss and delay. Or-' dinarily; the bottles are conveyed. to the filler, for instance, in regular successive contact engagement with a synchronized delivery device, as in-the'common practice of using a star wheel.

Wherever however, due to relay or any cause, efiecting irregular and open spacing of the bottles iii-approaching or arriving atsuch .device'out-of properatiming the normal operation is interrupted with resulting jamming and breakage. It

is desirable therefore, that the motor control means of the present invention be locatedata sufficient distance in the rear of or backward-1y; from the said star wheel, with ample interveningsupply of bottles in continuous progress, to ensurepropersuccessive engagement with thefiller distributing-star wheel, when the motor-of thefiller-is Y again energized.

Fig. ...7 is .a .detaiLview showing a modified -con struction of movementlimiting,means, j

Fig., ,8i is a .diagrammaticflview illustratingone means for" driving. the filling machine: and the starwheelias controlled by the switch mechanism? of casing A...

As, shown-in Fig. .1,ia column ofbottlesZ being transferred-in the usual manner by. a sup'- porting continuously runningconveyingchain, on the, line C,'.G, Fig. 4. The bottles travel between the; usualflateral guides 3 ,1 3, towards the. filler,

The guides lead to any suitable point where alcontrolling, star wheel or other synchronized device 42,.distributes them generallyin circular travel, aroundthe localized positions on, the rotating;..platform of, a filling machine. Such machine, diagrammatically indicated by the numeral 5,'"is usually geared with a star wheel 4, Within" guide extensiont, and is, rotated. by, a driving" motor.

Thelfilli'ngumachine 5'15 usually rotatedat'a, definitespeedwcontinuously, during. normarieedi, of bottlesor other containers.

Fig. 8'illustrates, somewhat diagrammatically; onemeans for driving the filling machine 5 and" the. star wheel 4;'jas..controlled by the switch mechanism f e sin A;

Drive. shaft 50; offiller5 is geared-withshaft 4a; of the, star wheel .4; as. by gear 9'- and-pinionp, andshait "5a; is initially driven by gears-g} :and y fof .shaft-s ofmotor M, energized through condujctors .l 2" and source of current-B; Y

The operating mechanism whereby current; control isregulated to suit thevarying conditions The present invention is an improvement1in'35 incident, to the, transfer of bottles. or. the like, is, t ype of c s c c d' n y or" contained. in a suitable casing A, as hereinafter. Patent NO. 2,368,738. described. I

Assuming the invention be utili d in. Thecasing itself, .inthe form of aclosed rec, transfer and regulation of mllk bottles. it is illustangular box, is provided with a hermetically Fd' the accompanymfg drawmgs: m M11911: --sea1ed cover plate 1, for protection against moisgeper l plan mstanalmn" ture, usually incidental to-liquid splashing opera. as-used'in distributing bottles to a filling machine. tions as in a bottling plant Fig.2 isanenlarged plan view ofthe casing of 'iny control device with the'cover-removed, and iggf ii figfi fifig g ifi gsg g gg Showing t e" p rating arm depressed backward;- r e 1y, with the circuitclosed.

Fig.*3"is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 showing thedeflectingarm erected, and with the circuit open.

Fig; 4- is a side elevation of Fig. 2.

Fig.- 5 is a further enlarged sectional detail view.- of the adjusting mechanism for-the springabutment.

Fig. 6-is=an isometric view ofthe arresting and releasing latch. 1

isasupportedin any'suitablemanner, as by an anglebar a, connected with the ends of the guide bar. as..shown.

Ordinarily, thebottles '2 in their normal progress, are.regularly-distributed fromthe longitu dinal conveyor tothe filler delivering terminal,- ina continuous supply column. However, due-tot any interruption or delay, it sometimes happens that open spaces orgaps between thebottles, or

betweensectionsthereof, may cause a termination of close continuity of the column, and interruption of regular delivery to the filler assembly 5.

For prevention of column interruption and confusion, with resulting bottle breakage or jamming against wheel 4, and especially for avoiding the otherwise numerous stopping and starting of .the motor of the receiving machine, or filler, the

invention provides means for immediately effecting the termination of filler operation after the terminal bottle of a column has passed beyond a point of conveyor progress, ahead of an open space or gap in the column.

Such spacing in the column may, for instance, occur afterthe end bottle has passed beyond the control mechanism, and where there are frequent intervening spaces between individual or separated small groups of bottles. In such cases, resulting frequent stopping and starting of the filling machine motor, is not only expensive and wearing on the equipment, but tends to disorganization and undesired interruptions otherwise.

Such interruptions are usually due to lack of a sufficient number of bottles coming from the bottle washer to the filler, and will occur every time the washer is stopped or the bottle supply from the washer falls below the adjusted operating speed of the filler. Every time this happens, the bottles will separate and jam at the star wheel entrance to the filler, which upsets them and causes bottle breakage, and also does damage to the filler before it is manually stopped by the operator.

By my improvement, the filler 5 cannot start automatically until separated bottles are first grouped together, and then released by the pres sure of a group of any desired predetermined number of bottles for which the adjustment is made.

Alternately, the automatic control groups any number of separated bottles first, and then when the pressure is built up to the adjusted degree, the group of bottles is released, and only then is the control switch automatically closed to start the filler.

In the present case I utilize but a single swinging arm 8, secured to the lower end of vertical stem or shaft 9 extendingthrough the bottom of the casing, and operatively connected with the switch control mechanism therein. Switch terminals ill, of any suitable construction, are adapted to be closed by a resilient switch blade H, to open and close the circuit to the motor M of the filler 5 through conductors l2.

Contact blade II and its terminal is closed across the terminals Ill, by means of a slidably mounted spring-retracted pin mounted in a suitable supporting fixed frame H, the pin [6 being actuated by any suitable means as a leaf spring l8.

The upper end of shaft 9 is provided with a fixedly attached dog 19 having an arcuate radial face 20, and a closing initial abutment 2|.

A projecting arm 22 of the dog extends outwardly, and is adapted to assume arresting position against the inner wall of the casing, so as to arrest movement of the arm 8 in its outer position across the path of bottle travel, as in Fig. 3.

I show in Fig. '7 a modification of the movement limiting stop 22, for varying the extent of outward swinging movement of arm 8. In such case the dog I9 is provided with the extension 22a, provided'with an adjustable set screw l3 having a turning head 14, for adjustment in the arm '22atoward or from'a bracket 15, extending inwardly from the wall of the casin A. Thus by adjusting of the screw the outward movement of the arm may be varied, as in the case of adjusting its movement for different operating conditions.

Adjustment of the throw of the dog also controls the timing of the switch, and action of the radial face 25 and abutment 2! in closing arm l8 against pin I'S, for correct closure of the circuit terminals In, H],

Ordinarily, under the pressure of a moving column of bottles, the arm 8 is depressed backwardly as in Fig. 2, and is there held until the entire column of bottles has passed beyond the arm terminal, whereupon it is then thrust outwardly, opening the contact by action of spring 23, as in Figs. 1 and 3.

Such spring is connected with a suitable terminal fixture 24 of the casing and with a pivotally mounted arresting and releasing latch or plate 25. Such latch is pivoted to dog [9 by a cross pin 26 engagin the middle portion of the dog l9, as shown.

When the arm 8 is thrust outwardly as in Figs. 1 and 3 by such spring action, the latch 25 passes freely backwardly over a resilient abutment 21. In such movement the latch assumes substantially a central line relation with the spring, and with its terminal closely adjacent to the rounded terminal abutment 21 of spring 28, secured as at 29 to the side wall of the casing.

In receded position the latch bears against the 7 corner of the dog and is in'line centrally with spring 23. I

Asthus constructed, when the first one of a column of bottles depresses the arm 8 backwardly, the dog [9 and latch 25 are thrust annularly, bringing the terminal of latch 25 into contact with the terminal rounded abutment 21 of the leaf spring 28, and beyond it, as in Fig. 2. Dependent on the tension and adjustment of spring 28, the arm 8, because of such frictional opposition, may oppose bottle progress, until overcome by bottle accumulation. Upon release, of bottle pressure, the latch 25 will be thrust backwardly against and over the abutment 21 of spring 28, as in Fig. 3. 7

To provide for varying circumstances and varying pressure, dependent on the number of the bottles, or their size, or other conditions, it is very desirable that the opposing friction of latch 25 against the abutment of spring 28 shall be in proportion to such bottle pressure. I have therefore provided means for varying the stiffness or resiliency of the spring 28 so as to provide for a slight, intermediate, or maximum resistance before permitting the latch 25 to pass over the abutment terminal 21, to provide for recession of arm 8.

Such device consists of an adjustable head 30 having afinger piece 3|, and a, feeding screw '32. The latter is threaded interiorly of a threaded bushing 33 fixedly connected with the wall of the casing; as by lock nut 38. Likewise, arms 34 and 35, swivelled around the bushing 33, may befixedly held by locknuts 39 and 40.

Said arms 34 and 35 are provided with limitlng stops 36 and 31, capable of being set annularly as desired for interference with the finger bar 3i of head 30, so as to limit the entire movement to the desired range between a minimum pressure against spring 28, or a maximum pressure and much increased resistance, or any interveningpressure. The reason for such adjustmentis to provide for an overly extended variation inspacing, dependent upon the grouping as to number 55; of bottles sufficient to overcome= resistance of springzzik. 7

Each of arms set, with relation. to. each. othenamund the ad justing screw 32', to arrestarm 3lin one direction, asv by unscrewing to release tension ofspring.

28-, for-minimum resistance; or in. the opposite direction, to-ex-tend the spring for maximum; re:- sistance, or as to-any intermediate compromise positions V l Such adjustment is of greatadvantage in izpro e vidingJvariable resistance by. arm 8, in. holding back and grouping separatedtunits, as of any. pre. determined number of .bottlesgtbefore theafillerS is automatically started. It thus prevents unnecessary starting and stopping of the filling machine at any time the supply, as from the washer, is not continuous or falls below the absorbing speed of the filler.

The importance of my improvement will be appreciated by all those familiar with manual control filler operation and the amount of damage done when a filler operates with bottles missing under one or more of the filler tubes, also the difiiculties encountered in manual operation when the containers are not delivered to the star wheel entrance to the filler in a continuous unbroken column, in synchronism with the operating speed of the filler.

The construction and operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description. Assuming a continuous procession or column of containers is supplied to themachine, as a filler, the first unit in its progress, as carried by the conveyor and closely adjacent following units, will actuate arm 8, and close the circuit to the motor M of the filler.

In case of a temporary delay in the supply, causing one or more open spaces, arm 8 will be relieved from bottle pressure, and will then move outwardly across the conveyor, arresting further movement of units until sufilcient bottles have accumulated, to overcome adjusted resistance of spring 28.

Thereafter, the supply will be renewed and continued, with or without interruption, and with a minimum requirement of stoppage and starting of the motor of the receiving machine, due to the bottle grouping and filler control provided for herein.

If desired, an additional arresting device, such as the arm 8, may be interposed in the progress of the bottles in approachin the current control installation A for the filler.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with an independently driven unit conveyor having lateral guides leading to a terminal receiving device, and a motor therefor, a casing at one side of the conveyor, means for energizing said motor comprising a switch in said casing, a switch operating arm pivoted to said casing, movable across the conveyor and reversely therefrom to arrest and release unit progress, means connected with the arm for opening and closing the switch, and means limiting outward movement of the arm.

2. In combination with an independently driven unit conveyor having lateral guides leading to a terminal receiving device, a motor for the receiving device, a casing at one side of the conveyor, means for energizing said motor comprising a circuit and a switch, a switch operating arm movable across the conveyor and reversely therefrom, means connected with the arm for opening and closing the switch, means for impart- 34 and 35 is thus l-capableof being ing .to 'a:. terminal receiyingsdev ice; and; a .-m o.t

thGI'GfOBJIIIBaHSxfOIY: .energizing.:;saidr.motors. c0. prising a. circuits, and :a 1switch,:;an enclosingcas. ing: for; the. switch, at.switch;operating:.;armlmu able acrosszthe conveyors.-andreverselyrtherefrom andipivotedito .thecasing; means: connected "with;

the. .arm#.-for-..opening. andrclosing, therswitchtandr; means .5 controlling: :the, movement. 1 ofiifsaids'armr. comprising-.apart mounted; for; a.;pivota'l: moves; ment withisai'd arm=,.a.latch pivoted onsaidpart; aspring connected with; said: latch;f0n:aQDL yi'ng.-. a biasthrough said i'partzzforamoyinga saidz;amn: acrosslthe. conveyor; and aresilientzabutmentie gageableiwi-th said latchiupon movementpofisaida. arm across-.saidconveyomfor resiliently latching it against reverse movement.

4. In combination with a unit conveyor, a casing alongside the conveyor, a switch therein, a rotatable vertically disposed shaft in the casing, a laterally movable arm connected with the shaft for location across the conveyor and reversely alongside it, a resiliently mounted abutment in the casing, a dog secured to the shaft having a portion for closing the switch when the arm is reversed, a pivotally mounted latch on the dog engageable with said abutment when the arm is reversed, and a spring connected with the latch and with a terminal fixture on the casing for imparting outward movement to the arm.

5. Means for opening and closing a circuit to the motor of a machine receiving conveyor-supplied series of units as conventionally delivered by a conveyor, comprising with such conveyor, a unit-actuated arm, and its pivoting shaft, a circuit and a switch, a rotatable dog secured on the shaft having a switch operating portion and a pivoted latch, a spring exerting tension on the latch and dog, a leaf spring having an abutment in range of the latch and engageable thereby, and adjusting means for varying the tension of the leaf spring.

6. In combination with a conventional conveyor and a receiving machine for units delivered by the conveyor, said receiving machine having an operating motor, a casing along side the conveyor, a current supply circuit for the motor, an opening and closing switch therefor, a pivoting shaft operatively connected with a laterally and longitudinally movable unit-actuated arm, a switch operating dog connected with the arm, a latch pivotally mounted on the dog, a tension spring connected with the casing and the dog for thrusting the movable arm outwardly across the conveyor, a resilient member secured to the casing having a resistance abutment engageable by the latch when the arm is thrust backwardly and means for adjusting said resilient member and its abutment with relation to the latch for varying resistance therebetween.

7. Construction as in claim 6 characterized by inclusion of a surface contacting arm connected with the unit-actuated arm for limiting outward movement of the laterally movable arm.

8. In the art of conveying bottles along and by a conveyor as from a washer to a filling machine provided with an actuating motor, means for starting and stopping the motor dependent upon bottle arrangement in the conveyor to automatically arrest the filling machine and movement of bottles thereto upon separation of one or more bottles of a column, and to restart the motor of the filling machine after contact grouping of bottles and their release; comprising a conveyor, 2. receiving machine and its motor, a laterally and longitudinally movable arresting and releasing arm pivotally mounted at one side of the con-.. veyor and adapted to be extended across or at one side of the conveyor for interruption or re-i lease of bottles in progress, a circuit and switch for supply and discontinuance of current for the, motor of the receiving machine, a partly rotatable dog operativelytconnected with the arresting and releasing arm and its pivotal mounting having a switch-engaging and disengaging portion, an enclosing casing therefor, a resilient leaf spring secured'to the casing having a terminal abutment, and a pivoted latch on the dog adapted to engage and disengage the abutment. and a spring connecting the latch with the casing.

CHRISTIAN N. BERGMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 1

UNITED STATES PATENT Number 

